Hey, Stardom just earned a huge slice of respect from me. *THAT* is how you take care of your fans and show them respect, especially with that horrible situation happening in east Asia. US indies, learn something here. This is how you keep loyalty.

Big Tone is getting tired of NJ not returning the favors. They should at least send Shota Umino in since Young Lions have to spend a year traveling anyway. And he had a good act with Moxley where he's forced to be his friend and suffers greatly for it. That would get over big in AEW since it's pretty funny.

Mox and Shota together in AEW would be fun. I believe he's on exercusion to the UK now but once that's up then I don't see why not Shota can't come to AEW. New Japan's working agreement with ROH seems back more on solid ground now (I believe that was one of the things Marty wanted to fix) but that's not to say that they can't all work together.

I do think there's still a holdup with Kenny (& maybe The Bucks) too with Kenny being pissed off with how he was treated on the way out. But I do think it could be easily resolved and I'd imagine that he'd like to compete there again with Kota. I think mostly all fans want to see AEW and NJPW work together so I imagine if the demand is still there that Tony and Harold Meij will try and make it work.

Representatives from seven Japanese promotions joined together today to take part in a government meeting regarding how the coronavirus pandemic has affected the professional wrestling industry in Japan.

The meeting included representatives from NJPW, Stardom, AJPW, DDT, Pro Wrestling NOAH, Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling, and World Women’s Wrestling Diana. They met with Hiroshi Hase, the former pro wrestling star who now serves as Japan's Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology.

The current Novel Coronavirus pandemic has seriously affected the entire professional wrestling industry, including but not limited to Bushiroad Group members New Japan Pro-Wrestling and STARDOM.

Professional wrestling is a contact sport, and even matches without the public present is a dangerous undertaking in the current climate. We can not allow the flame of professional wrestling that has burned brightly in this country for over half a century to be exterminated.

Therefore, we hereby make the following requests:

1. Testing kits

While we understand that top priority for medical supplies must go to those in centers on the front lines of battling this disease, if at all possible, we request that kits may be supplied to test and protect wrestlers and staff within the industry.

2.Compensation for contracted wrestlers

Not only the wrestlers under contract in our group of companies, but those in the industry at large are designated as contractors whose livelihood is therefore threatened by not being able to perform in the current climate. We ask that contracted wrestlers be met with benefits and protections befitting of full time employees.

"This formal proposal has my name signed at the bottom, but the issues covered are ones that affect the entire professional wrestling industry as well as all of sports and live entertainment," Kidani said. "I hope that it will be accepted as such."

NJPW's article about the meeting said that Hase received the proposal before seeking the opinion of the wrestlers who were there. Hiroshi Tanahashi said:

"While events have been canceled, our wrestlers have been training diligently and maintaining their focus for an eventual return. Yes, not being able to wrestle does make a lot of us concerned for our livelihoods, but in the world of sports, be that baseball, soccer, or sumo, I feel that professional wrestling should be the anchor. I think it should be acceptable for professional wrestling to be the last sport to return to full activity. I want people to know that when professional wrestling is back, then and only then it means truly that Japanese entertainment has properly recovered."

Mayu Iwatani said:

"On a personal note, on February 19, I was scheduled to have a birthday party event, which was canceled. On March 8, we streamed a live event with no fans in Korakuen Hall, but since then there have been cancellations after cancellations. We list our occupations as professional wrestlers, but to not have matches is, of course, incredibly frustrating. If we have access to testing kits for wrestlers and staff, it can put minds at ease and help us return to active duty. Rather than sitting and waiting for an unclear point in the future, to be able to take some kind of action like we’re doing today is something I’m extremely grateful for. I hope this can help the entire industry come back strong."

The sports board representative spoke about precautions sports have taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and about a fundraising system where ticket refunds can be given back to organizations as a tax deductible donation. Hase was also quoted as saying:

"Thank you to the representatives of the professional wrestling industry for sharing their plight, as well as for the explanations from official bodies today. There are measures we can enact to assist enterprises, promotions and wrestlers during these times, and I would like to continue to discuss them further. This situation will not last forever. Speedy and accurate testing, effective treatment and medicinal development are all things the whole world is working together on. Professional wrestling has a huge and very important role in raising the flag of victory over COVID-19. I ask all staff members and all wrestlers to keep working to be in the best shape possible to spread joy to the fans with incredible matches very soon."

I was going to make a joke about hoping The Fiend, MJF and Sami Callihan go to the US Senate but then I remembered VINCE MCMAHON AND DANA WHITE ARE ON THE AMERICAN ECONOMIC BOARD FOR RECOVERY and then it's not funny.